As I stand there, my hand still pressed against Magnus's lips, I feel a lot of things. Confusion, astonishment, and yes, even a hint of attraction to the man who just went through an incredible transformation. I can't help but be mesmerized by his newfound beauty, but my initial anger and betrayal still linger beneath the surface.
I feel mocked. And humiliated.
But no one’s laughing at me.
I spot Alina among the crowd and her jaw is practically on the floor. She looks furious and beside her Celeste seems to be grinding her teeth. I see Alina say something to Celeste as she stomps her feet like a stubborn child. Although only for a moment, I feel satisfied. I feel good. I want to laugh at them despite being the one who was tricked. Their evil plan has backfired.
The girl I treated with love all my life betrayed me just so she won’t have to marry an ugly man. But Magnus is anything but ugly. At least on the outside. I can't ignore the bad things I've heard that he's done.
My father and Alpha Zander besides him appear too shocked to give a reaction.
The crowd begins to murmur and chatter amongst themselves. I hear whispers and gasps of disbelief, but the loudest sound in my ears is the pounding of my own heart. Alec, still by my side, wears a look of concern, his eyes never leaving Magnus.
Magnus's golden eyes remain fixed on mine as he straightens himself and steps back, releasing my hand. His smile is charming, and he seems to be enjoying the reactions of the onlookers. It's as though he's reveling in the shock he's caused.
Alec, standing beside me, still appears disturbed. He's ready to act, to shield me from any potential harm, but with the wedding ceremony in full swing, there's little he can do to change the course of events. The mate bond may have been severed, but our connection persists, an unbreakable thread between us.
"What just happened?" I finally manage to ask, my voice trembling.
Magnus's gaze doesn't waver. "Magic, my dear. Powerful magic," he replies cryptically. "But let's not dwell on that. We have a wedding to celebrate, do we not?"
Before I can respond or make sense of his answer, a minister approaches us, his astonishment clear in his wide-eyed stare. "That was quite a show, Prince. The King will not appreciate this," he says, his voice fraught with concern for the consequences.
Magnus fixes the young minister with an intimidating look, causing the man to involuntarily take a step back in fear. "The King can kiss my ass," he retorts, his tone low and defiant, echoing the undercurrent of rebellion in the air.
The minister's eyes swiftly shift to my face, his face etched with alarm. However, he quickly recovers, offering a hurried bow before retreating from our presence.
As the tension in the room escalates, Alpha Zander, the imposing leader of our pack, rises from his seat and strides purposefully toward us. His smile, though forced, does little to mask the visible signs of tension on his face. It's a facade, and even from a distance, I can see the subtle twitching of his mouth, betraying his true emotions.
A heavy hush blankets the assembled crowd, and an unease settles over me like a dark cloud. I feel very, very sick as if the ground beneath my feet could give way at any moment, making me fall into a neverending pithole.
"Prince Magnus," Alpha Zander addresses him sternly, his voice laced with thinly veiled displeasure.
Magnus responds with a sly smirk, an air of audacity about him that hangs in the air like a charged current. "Alpha Zander," he acknowledges with an almost mocking tone, "The King sends his regards."
The exchange between the two powerful figures in my life sends shivers down my spine, and I find myself holding my breath.
Alpha Zander, despite feeling rage chooses to restrain himself. "There is much to discuss," he states in a measured tone, "but this is not the time or place."
Magnus releases a sigh, his head shaking dismissively. "We will talk, Alpha Zander, if I can find both the time and the interest to engage in yet another conversation with you."
The blatant display of disrespect exhibited by Magnus takes me aback, and I gasp in response. It's a boldness that surprises me, given the gravity of the situation. “He deserves it,” Lila's voice resonates within me.
I can sense the anger rising in Zander but he just snarls. He has no other choice. His eyes scream bloody murder, but there’s nothing he can do. Magnus is a guest here in our territory and it is a sin in the eyes of the Goddess to spill the blood of any welcomed werewolf.
The Alpha, his patience tested to the limit, proceeds to offer us the final blessing in the name of Goddess Selene, and Magnus leans in to kiss my lips gently. This time, there are no transformations or surprises, just the soft press of his mouth against mine. It's a simple kiss, but it sends shivers down my spine.
The crowd erupts in applause, and I feel a mixture of relief and uncertainty. My life has taken an unexpected turn, and I'm not sure what lies ahead.
As we turn to face the cheering crowd, I can't help but wonder what kind of man my husband truly is. His hand is holding mine firmly and I can’t bear the courage to face him. What magic had he used to conceal his appearance, and why had he chosen to reveal it now, on our wedding day? Why did he behave the way he did with Alpha Zander? There are so many unanswered questions, and I can only hope that in time, I will uncover the truth about the wicked Prince Magnus Blackwell.
I find out soon enough the kind of man my husband is. He’s truly a wicked, two-faced bastard! Few hours ago at the break of dawn, we started our journey back to Caelondor. I was made to sit inside a carriage covered with feather-filled pillows—the royal treatment, truly. But I’m not allowed to talk to my handmaids. Or anyone, really. In fact, ever since we left Mistral Hollow, Magnus had not even spared me a glance. It’s like for him I don’t even exist. He was charming during the wedding, kissing my hand like I expected a prince would. But it was all a facade. I should’ve known it, but as always I was a fool. I feel lonely already, away from my homeland—the place I grew up in. I’ve never been away from Mistral Hollow or my pack for more than a few days and now I'm going to spend my life in a foreign land. With the constant pain of having my mate by my side. Alec has kept his distance from me. I don’t know how he does it, because here I’m going crazy. I keep thinking of all the m
[ELARA] Hours likely passed since I narrowly escaped being murdered by a water demon, but my fury refuses to settle. Magnus' harsh words keep coming back to me. My maids insisted on changing me out of my soaked wedding gown. Initially rejecting their help, I soon realized how the wet fabric clung uncomfortably to my skin. Now, I find myself in a plain blue robe adorned with a silver border. The tent lacks the grandeur of the wedding ceremony—simple, unadorned, with dim lanterns casting a soft glow, creating an uncomplicated atmosphere. Seated on a basic bed, my thoughts are consumed by Magnus. He's not just a distant husband; he's orchestrating an elaborate game. Caelondor has never been favored among the independent wolf packs. That changed when news of King Eldric seeking an alliance reached us. Witnessing the Alpha's desperation was a rarity, sparking confusion within our pack. How would an alliance with a distant kingdom benefit us? Our pack has never been weak. Despite the ske
[MAGNUS] The night unfolds along the riverbank, the candlelit table casting a warm glow on the faces of the gathered ministers. They dine on the delicacies that are brought in — a roasted boar, its succulent flesh still sizzling — golden carrots, ruby-red beets, and emerald-green asparagus—arranged artfully on silver platters. Plates of venison flank the boar, the meat tender and juicy. They are accompanied by bowls of honey-glazed root vegetables—parsnips, and turnips glistening in the candlelight. A spread of artisanal bread, crusty and warm, sits alongside an assortment of cheeses and honeycomb. Flaky tarts stuffed with spiced fruits and nuts, their edges dusted with powdered sugar. The clinking of tankards and the hum of conversation fills the air, but I keep my ears glued to the sound of anything going amiss. “The Prince never fails to deliver a feast!” calls out Lord Reynard, laughing as he raises his glass of wine. He’s already quite drunk, barely keeping himself on the c
[ELARA] The shriek that cuts the air makes me shiver. One moment, I’m stomping towards the tent and the next I’m frozen in place. I look from where the commotion around the fire settles, to Magnus. He has his hand on the sheath of his sword, ready to draw it as he covers the distance between us. “Stay right here,” Magnus commands before his eyes find someone in the crowd that is now rushing towards us. “Alistair, protect her.” The beta werewolf is by my side in an instant, but I can’t help focus on the restless feeling that settles in my chest. Then after what feels like an eternity, Lila speaks to me. ‘Find Alec. He’s in trouble,’ she warns me. And I kick off my feet, running in no particular direction. The mate bond gnaws on my inside. I can feel Alec calling out my name but there’s something else. I can feel the bond begin to fade. Not break — like it does when you reject a mate, but actually fade. Until I can’t sense Alec anymore. The thought of his death overwhelms me. And th
[ELARA] Everytime I close my eyes, the unblinking eyes and still face of Kayla haunts me. So I keep myself awake, despite the exhaustion I feel. I woke up earlier — still in the arms of Magnus — but we weren’t in the tent where he had tried to get me to sleep. We were in the carriage I was traveling, surrounded by the same feather-filled pillows, lined by golden embroidery. I curled up the moment my eyes opened, finding my neck and face covered in sweat. He held me closer for a moment, providing me with a strange sense of comfort I wasn’t expecting from him. His golden eyes stared at my face as he moved the slick strands of my hair obstructing my gaze. I wondered if it was pity he felt for me. Maybe he was capable of that. For a moment I thought he was not the cold, cruel man he tried to portray himself as with his sharp words at me. Perhaps I could find something soft in him after all. But then his gaze turned distant and he moved me from his lap, his finger digging into my sho
[ELARA] There’s no wedding night, of course. I never held my breath for it. Magnus doesn’t even bother to come back into the room that is supposedly his for the rest of the night. I toss and turn on the soft bed all night, instead, watching the netted fabric hanging from the bedposts flutter along with the wind. I see the sky turn darker and quieter until the sun takes over, casting a warm glow inside the chamber. Kayla’s face never leaves my mind. And my last words to Alec haunt me. ‘Go, Alec. Get out of here! You’re a guard. You should know your place,’ I had yelled at him. While the human maids helped me around during the day to adjust to this new, strange place, I didn’t have it in me to strike any indulging conversation. The only question that has been plaguing me is: what happened there, after I left, that turned Alec into a rogue werewolf? Rogueness is complicated but it can be as easily triggered. We werewolves are supernatural creatures, our abilities and senses heigh
[ELARA] In order to get to Alec, I have to first get through breakfast with the royal family. The King is absent since he’s off at war. It makes me realize that Caelondor is not exactly in a comfortable position and that the warriors from my pack could be summoned at any time to provide military assistance. I find it strange that King Eldric chose an independent pack, rather than any of the neutral werewolf kingdoms to marry Magnus into. It would support their cause and provide them with more benefits than could be gained from the Lunar Crest pack — although it is the largest and most powerful pack among the independent packs in the continent. Or maybe, I’m overestimating Caelondor’s friendly status as a kingdom. Perhaps they’re desperate to form any alliances they can and given the rumors surrounding Magnus’ reputation, I’m the best they could find. While the dining table is long and narrow, spanning the entire dome shaped hallway overlooking the Cursed Gulf, most of the chai
[ELARA]“Please, don’t eat that,” I manage to choke out, my stomach turning in revolt as my gaze shifts from the plate to Alec's frail form. "I’m so sorry," I murmur, my remorse evident though none of this is my doing.A surge of anger courses through me, directed at Alina. Every fiber of my being despises her. I clench my teeth, restraining curses. She orchestrated this, fully aware of the consequences. If only Alec had still been in Mistral Hollow, none of this tragedy would unfold. But she manipulated Alpha Zander into assigning him as my personal guard.Not only am I being punished for never doing anything wrong, so is Alec.He still keeps his head bowed between folded knees. I cautiously approach, avoiding the cold touch of silver bars, and notice eerie black swirls on his bare back It’s not something I’ve seen before on him and I’ve seen him more naked than this several times. “What is that?” I ask out loud without intending to do so. “Oh, here you are,” a voice interrupts my